Two arrested after car theft, residential burglary

The following is from a Humboldt County Sheriff's Office press release:

On 3-2-2013, approximately 5:45 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a report from Blue Lake Casino Security regarding a suspicious truck parked in their parking lot. Security reported a white 1997 Ford Ranger had arrived at the Casino about 1:30 a.m. on 03-02-2013 and both front side windows were broken. The people who had been around the vehicle had left and the truck was left unoccupied. The Casino Security attempted to find the registered owner of the vehicle and determined they were not a patron. The also attempted to call the registered owner and were not able to make contact with the trucks owner.

The deputy examined the vehicle and saw there was glass covering the front seats. The deputy drove to the registered owners address in the 7000 block of West End Road, Arcata and saw several exterior doors to the residence were open. The interior of the home appeared to be ransacked. Deputies found a crowbar in the home which appeared to have been used to force entry into the home. Multiple doors had been forced open. Deputies were able to contact the owner of the residence who was out of the area. The owner told the deputies there was a BMW 321i that should have been parked at the home. Deputies discovered that vehicle was also stolen. Deputies had dispatch broadcast that the BMW was stolen to local law enforcement and entered it into the stolen vehicle system.

On 3-3-2013, deputies were notified by a friend of the victim that was checking on the home that the home had been broken into again, and additional items were stolen including a washer and dryer. It appeared the suspects had returned to the residence overnight. Deputies responded again to the residence and observed fresh entry damage to the home that had been secured since the last burglary. An apartment on the property had also been broken into.

On 03-03-2013, approximately 11:15 p.m. a Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Deputy spotted the stolen BMW in the McDonalds parking lot in the 1700 block of Fourth Street, Eureka. Deputies arrested Harley Wayne Hammers Jr. 36 years old from McKinleyville, and Shavonne Patricia Pratt aka Shavonne Hammers, 34 years old from Lakeport. They were both arrested for possession of stolen property and possession of illicit drugs. Harley Hammers Jr. also was arrested on outstanding arrest warrants for possession of illicit drugs. Pratt was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional facility and released on her own recognizance, Hammers is being held on $105,000.00 bail.

This case is still an active investigation and more suspects are being identified. Blue Lake Casino Security is assisting with the investigation by providing and reviewing video tapes. The victims are still providing information on what was stolen.

Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.